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eBooks and Audio Books

Learn Business and Software Skills with lynda.com

Did you want to upgrade your business and technical knowledge? You can do this from home with lynda.com. The Monmouth County Library is pleased to offer our cardholders expanded access to lynda.com, an online service which provides online instruction on a variety of business and software topics. Normally, this service is available only as a paid subscription but as a Monmouth County Library cardholder in good standing you can use this service for free from any Internet-supported computer. To get free access, you must log on through the Monmouth County Library's access here. The first time you access lynda.com, you must create a profile, after that, you can use your library card number and the password that you created. But you must always access lynda.com through the Library's website which is found under Databases for Articles, Digital Reference Books and Online Learning.

Once you set up your profile you are ready to get started. You can view the video on how to create a playlist and look for classes that interest you. New courses are added often and you can easily search for topics and even instructors that you like.

Once you have created your account, you can customize it to allow you manage your course history, playlists and Certificates of Completion. Certificates of Completion can be upload to your own LinkedIn profile. lynda.com hosts over 3,000 courses supported by over 130,000 videos. The courses cover a multitude of topics ranging from business courses, web design, multimedia and software including Microsoft Office and the Adobe Suite of products. You can use lynda.com on a PC, Mac or smartphone that is connected to the Internet.

Find out more about lynda.com on this video and get started with lynda.com

Summer Reading 2015

Summer Reading begins June 1 at the Monmouth County Library

Be a hero at your local Library this summer! Summer reading clubs for all ages begin on June 1 throughout the Monmouth County Library, and run through August 8.

This year, Summer Reading Clubs will take on a superhero theme: Every Hero Has a Story! for Children; Unmask for Teens, and Escape the Ordinary for Adults. Throughout the summer at the Library, you’ll find great programs teaching kids about local heroes, everyday heroes and superheroes.

The Summer Reading Clubs are divided into Early Learners, Children’s, Teens and Adults, and each has different reading goals:

Early learners - children who are not yet reading independently - can join the Read-To-Me-Clubs, and listen to 20 books

For school age children, the goal is to log eight hours of reading.

For teens, the goal is 800 pages.

For adults, the goal is four books.

Meet the goal and win a prize! Each participant registers online with the branch library of their choice, or a parent can create a family registration which gives them control of their children’s accounts. Prizes can be picked up at the branch where you registered.

Special kick off celebrations for Summer Reading will be held at Library branches at the end of June. Check with your local branch for time and date for special summer programs or click on the Monmouth County Library webpage at www.monmouthcountylib.org

Did You Know? Children's Services at the Monmouth County Library

Did you know that the Monmouth County Library offers more than just storytimes for children? We offer children’s DVDs at all of our branches; downloadable magazines for children available through our new offering, Flipster; and digital resources to help children do their homework and other projects for school. We offer special programs such as LEGO® Clubs, crafts, Read to a Therapy dog, and plenty more. And, the storytimes are pretty special, too, as we customize them for babies under age 2 (siblings are welcome), for toddlers, pre-K kids, and family groups. Each of our branches has a children’s librarian, and you can find a schedule of activities on our website under Children.

We have many online databases for children that can be used in the library, or from home (with a valid library card). These include the DK Eyewitness books, Facts on File with reference material covering history, science, health, literature and an atlas, Tumblebooks with read-along picture books, and Searchasaurus with magazine articles, dictionary, and encyclopedia. Kids can also learn a world language using Kidspeak for 6-year-olds and up; eleven languages are taught through animations, puzzles and songs.

Children’s eBooks and audiobooks can be downloaded from our Library on the Go to a tablet or eReader. They are available with a valid resident library card.

Several of our libraries have Early Literacy Stations that offer an all-in-one touchscreen computer intended for children ages 2 to 8. These stations are not connected to the Internet so this offers a safe and secure learning environment for your child. You can find them at the Library’s Headquarters in Manalapan, Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, Hazlet Township, Ocean Township, Marlboro and Howell branches.

You can always find something exciting for your children and yourself at the Library. Check out our website and call your local branch for more information. Come to the Monmouth County Library for books, eBooks, electronic magazines, research tools and fun! You can find it all at the Library!

Did you know? Now, you can download magazines!

The Monmouth County Library is now offering downloadable magazines through a new offering from EBSCO called Flipster. Flipster gives you access to selected magazines from home (if you have a valid library card) or from the library. There are magazines for children, teens and adults. Magazines include lifestyle magazines such as Elle, Vegetarian Times, Country Living and O, the Oprah Magazine. Teens can read Girls' Life and Seventeen and children can see the latest from Ranger Rick, Discovery Girls and Odyssey, a science-oriented magazine. Looking for a new recipe? You can find the exciting new recipes and food tips from the Food Network, Food and Wine,Clean Eating and Cooking Light.

Is your New Year's Resolution to get healthier? See what Yoga Journal,Prevention and Health have to offer.

Magazines can be downloaded to an iPad, iPad Mini and Android tablet. You can find out what is available and download them here. And, if you want more information about how to get started with Flipster, check out the video. You can also find Flipster under our Research tab at the top of the page. Once there, you can find Flipster on the right side under database quick links. While you are there, you can see the many other exciting informational tools available from the library.